Stephen wasn’t a patient man. Once he knew what he wanted, he went for it. I guess when he glimpsed Heaven, I should have known it wouldn’t be long before he would choose the road less traveled. He was however, always considerate of others. He spoke to me about all of his clients, parents, siblings, and friends and was always concerned about others. It doesn’t surprise me that he fought to breathe for another 24 hours. He didn’t leave us just because he was tired and exhausted. He came back.

He came back long enough for friends to visit him in the ICU and give him that hope that he needed for his final journey. He spent one last night with me holding my hand. He waited for his parents and siblings to arrive and hold and kiss him. He waited for his last rites. He waited for one more family rosary. He waited for one more chaplet of Divine Mercy. He waited for our kids to be in the room. He waited for the last verse of his favorite hymn to be sung.

I love you Lord

and I lift my voice

to worship You

O my soul, rejoice!

Take joy my King

in what you hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound,

in Your ear.

And as we sang that last line, he went Home.

I could imagine God at that moment welcome Stephen home saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

As his final breath left him, there was a peace that fell over the room.

It was a beautiful death.